Earlier this week, Golf Digest alerted subscribers by email that Paulina Gretzky, the fiancée of PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson and Internet phenomenon, would be headlining its May 2014 issue and taking center stage on its cover of the “Fit Issue.”

The magazine only teased the cover initially with a small photo, but on Thursday, Golf Digest released the cover for all to see, as well as some other photographs from the cover shoot and images of Gretzky doing some golf-related stretching.

For the cover shoot, Gretzky poured herself into a pair of skin-tight, white leggings and white sports bra. For the stretching exercise demonstration, she once again wears some form-fitting clothing (gallery here). Why? Because she’s in incredibly good shape and mostly because she can.

Which brings up another question: Why is Paulina Gretzky, of all people, doing on the cover of Golf Digest? Granted, she is tangentially affiliated with the world of golf given her relationship with Johnson and is frequently spotted at tournaments cheering on her betrothed. She is also an aspiring golfer, who is improving, it should be added, and made a cameo appearance in a Taylor Made commercial.

Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde took the issue head-on about who the mag put on the cover of the issue, and explained the rationale behind the decision.

“Sports figures, celebrities and models have appeared on Golf Digest covers since the magazine’s beginning,” he said. “Paulina ranks at the high end of the golf celebrity scene today, and she has a compelling story to tell. She also might get some new people interested in the game.”

Couldn’t have put it better. Also, this:

Yeah, those kind of photos will attract plenty more eyeballs than the standard issue, both in print and on the web. Let’s put it this way: For the average non-golfer, there is little to no chance they would ever visit Golf Digest‘s website or pick up an issue. With Gretzky prominently featured, odds are they will, meaning pageviews and issue purchases will be going way up for Golf Digest. Like it or not, that’s a big part of what it’s all about.